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Wadell

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Wadell

Pronounced wah-DEL /wɑˈdɛl/Low

Meaning: Wadell is a variant of Waddell, a Scottish and English surname drawn from Wedale, an old place-name in the Scottish Borders. Carried into American given-name use, it belongs to the class of locational surnames, marking a family's origin in a particular valley rather than any word-meaning.Low

In 30 seconds: Wadell is a rare surname-style boy's name, a variant of Waddell from the place Wedale. It is said wah-DEL.

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Origin LowScottish, English

MeaningWadell is a variant of Waddell, a Scottish and English surname drawn from Wedale, an old place-name in the Scottish Borders. Carried into American given-name use, it belongs to the class of locational surnames, marking a family's origin in a particular valley rather than any word-meaning.

U.S. rank (1995)#10271 ↘ Falling

1995 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1932

Total births (all-time)≈ 316

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Wadell is a variant of the surname Waddell, which comes from Wedale in the Scottish Borders. Like many such locational names, it moved from map to family name to first name, and its meaning lies in the place itself rather than in a translatable word, giving it a rooted, understated character.

It was never common as a first name, given to only around fifteen boys a year even at its peak in the early nineteen-thirties, and it stayed scarce. A boy named Wadell then would be a great-grandfather today.

Did you know? The surname behind Wadell comes from Wedale, a district in the Scottish Borders, so the name quietly points back to a specific patch of Scotland.

Overall data confidence 30%

References - Wadell — Variant of Waddell; Scottish/English surname from Wedale place-name.

Variations

WaddellWadelWaddel

Nicknames

Wade

Famous Bearers

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If you like Wadell…

Wardell— a like -dell surname-name

Odell— a comparable surname used as a first name

Cordell— another -dell given name

Waddell— shares Wadell's Scottish roots

Sentell— echoes that soft -ll sound

Explore names like Wadell

By themerare scottish surname masculine

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Wadell mean?

It is a variant of the Scottish and English surname Waddell, from the place-name Wedale.

How do you pronounce Wadell?

It is said wah-DEL /wɑˈdɛl/, two syllables with the stress on the second.

Is Wadell a boy or girl name?

Wadell is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Wadell?

Wadell was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen boys a year even at its peak in the early nineteen-thirties.